Miners, banks boost Aust shares

Australian shares rose on Monday, as strong iron ore prices in China helped material stocks while investors were largely focused on earnings due later in the week.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended the day up 38.2 points, or 0.61 per cent, at 6,273.0 points, while the All Ordinaries was up 32.6 points, or 0.52 per cent, at 6,359.0 points.

The most-traded September iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange climbed as much as 6.5 per cent to its loftiest since March 9 supported by strong margins at China's steel producers as Beijing's anti-pollution fight tightens supply.

The bounce in commodities fed into Australia's material plays, said Christopher Conway, head of research and trading at Australian Stock Report.

The gains also come despite wider concerns about global trade after a fresh escalation in the Sino-US trade war.

However, investor focus is likely to shift to companies' earnings announcements this week, Mr Conway said.

Mining stocks were the main driver for gains, with BHP adding 2.2 per cent to $34.10 and Rio Tinto 0.6 per cent higher at $77.02.

Lithium play Galaxy Resources lifted 3.3 per cent to $2.84, after it said its deal to sell some Argentine assets to South Korea's POSCO for $US280 million was ahead of schedule.

Banks gained ground as the financial services royal commission resumed hearings - this time on the superannuation sector - with Commonwealth Bank adding one per cent to $73.56.

Australia's largest lender is due to report full-year results on Wednesday.

Wealth manager AMP is also due to report half-year results on Wednesday and its shares fell 1.4 per cent to $3.45 on Monday.

In companies news, online jobs giant Seek slumped $1.92, or 8.8 per cent, to a three-month low of $20.00 after flagging slower revenue growth in 2018/19 and impairments on its Brazil and Mexico operations.

The Australian dollar was at 73.95 US cents at 1700 AEST, up slightly from 73.60 US cents on Friday.

Eye-watering, throat-scratching air pollution is a major driver of big city blues in China, according to a study published Monday that matched social network chatter with fine-particle pollution levels.